the mighty seas broke in upon them as if they would have drowned them in the very cabin. Mr. F. in this danger, took hold of the two pillars of the cabin head, and calling upon God, begged mercy for himself, and the rest in the ship. Amongst other arguments in prayer, he made use of this, that if he and his company perished in that storm, the name of God would be blasphemed; the enemies of religion would say, that though he escaped their hands on shore, yet divine vengeance had overtaken him at sea. In the midst of prayer, his faith and hope were raised, insomuch that he expected a gracious answer; so that, committing himself and his company to the mercy of God, he concluded the duty. No sooner was prayer ended, but one came down from the deck, crying, "deliverance! deliverance! God is a God hearing prayer! In a moment the wind is come fair west!" and so sailing before it, they were brought safely to London.-Life of Flavel.

TRY TO DO GOOD.

At our village feast or wake, there is much drunkenness and rioting. Sunday has been the chief day of gaiety in former years. On the Sunday evening last year, seeing the public-house yard full of drinkers, a person went in amongst them with tracts and offered them at the ale tables. The first tract offered was, "Are you prepared to die?" The man who took it, read the title aloud, and said, "No, Sir, I am not." He was asked, "Is this the place to prepare to die?" He said, "No Sir, I think not." He then took up his hat, said, "I'll be off immediately," carried the tract away in his hand, and left the village to go home. In half an hour, the public-house yard was clear. God is ever ready to bless the humblest attempts to do good.

LINES

Composed by Mr. Selwyn, and written in his Prayer Book, in 1815.

Oh! when to thee, Creation's Lord, we raise
The feeble voice of man's imperfect praise;
To thee, our Father! when we bend in prayer,
And ask, (how undeserv'd!) thy gracious care;
When ev'ry heart that gratitude can move,
Pours its poor thanks to pay a Saviour's love;
-Hour so transcending all that man might deem,
Or angel calculate, of Love Supreme-

Then, then with pure devotion's hallowed fire,
Oh! Holy Spirit, all my soul inspire!

In humblest rev'rence teach my knee to bow!
In humblest rev'rence bend my heart as low!
Fill ev'ry thought with thee, with thee alone,
And not in part, but make me all thine own!
Thus shall my thanks, my prayers, my praises rise,
By love divine wing'd upward through the skies;
And deem'd by love divine an offering meet,
Find sure acceptance at the mercy-seat.

HENRY SELWYN.

LINES

Composed by Mr. Selwyn and written in his Bible in 1815.
Oh worthy gift of heav'nly love to man!
Bless'd exposition of salvation's plan!

By truth confirm'd through each important line,
A revelation of the Will Divine!

The rule to which our stubborn hearts should bend,
The rich man's monitor, the poor man's friend!
The good man's trust, the scoffer's secret dread!
song of peace to soothe death's fearful bed!
Of peace from God, long tempted, oft denied,
To man, the contrite, humbled child of pride!

A

HENRY SELWYN.

NOTE.--Mr. and Mrs. Selwyn, of Bath, were lost in the Rothsay Castle Steam Packet, having been at Whittington Church the Sunday before. See Friendly Visitor, for 1831, page 123.

THE SABBATH MORN.

Sweet Sabbath morn, I welcome thee;

Again my waking eyes,

Sweet Sabbath morn, rejoice to see

Thy silent glories rise.

When first the world in order stood,
And God pronounced thee blest;
How fair, how peaceful, and how good
Creation's hallowed rest.

But on thy dawn a lustre shone
With beams of holier light;
When He who suffered to atone,
Brake through the shades of night.

My soul shall magnify the Lord,
Who bless'd the Sabbath day;
The fiat of whose mighty word
Creation's laws obey.

And thou, great Sun of righteousness,
Who did'st my soul redeem;
Lord of the Sabbath I confess,
And hail thy risen beam.

O may thy Spirit's holy flame,
My waiting soul inspire,
As when from heaven first he came
In cloven tongues of fire.

Then, O! Jehovah, will I raise
Within thy blest abode,

To Father, Son, and Spirit praise,

For threefold grace bestowed.

IOTA.

PRAISE.

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.--Rev. v. 9.

Hark! hark! the voice of ceaseless praise

Around Jehovah's throne,

Songs of celestial joy they raise,

To mortal lips unknown.

Upon the sea of glass they stand,
In shining robes of light;
The harps of God are in their hand,
They rest not day or night.
Oh! for an angel's perfect love,
A seraph's soaring wing,

To sing, with thousand saints above,
The triumphs of our King.

On earth, our feeble voice we try,
In weakness and in shame,
We bless, we laud, we magnify,
We conquer in his name.

But oh! with pure and sinless heart,
His mercies to adore,

My God! to know thee as thou art,
Nor grieve thy Spirit more-
Ah! blessed hope! a "little while"
And we, amidst that throng,
Shall live in our Redeemer's smile,
And swell the angel's song.

FOSTER, PRINTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE.

ESFERANCE.

THE FRIENDLY VISITOR.

EDITED BY THE REV. W. CARUS WILSON, M. A.

These are days of change; and what it will all lead to no one can possibly say. It is a relief to think that while busy, ungodly men expect and intend mischief, He who sitteth in the heavens will overrule all the events of life for the furtherance of his grand design of love and mercy to a fallen world.

It seems as if every thing was on the move, from the highest to the most trifling and insignificant concerns: and we hear much of the march of intellect and the advance of knowledge. It appears indeed as if knowledge was intended now to run to and fro in a way never known before; and to be put in all its varied forms within the reach of all classes and capacities.

It is now above fourteen years since the Editor began his labours. He believes that the Friendly Visitor was then the only penny periodical in circulation; but now there are Domestic Visitors, and Weekly Visitors, and Penny Magazines, and even Half-penny Magazines, in extensive circulation on all sides. It has been suggested to the Editor, that he can scarcely expect to stand his ground amidst so many rival publications. The steady sale of his two works has so far prevented any fear of this nature: he has however thought it prudent to consider whether, while all things are changing, and many things improving around, there are any points in which he can change for the better. One thing he is quite decided upon; that he cannot for a moment drink into the spirit of the times, by substituting entertaining matter for the solid, substantial food of Gospel truth. He wishes every

D

possible success to the penny magazines which are weekly issuing from the press, and he is fully convinced of the benefit that may accrue from them; but that benefit to be real and essential, must be confined to the week-day reading. If papers not fully and directly of a religious character are chosen for Sunday reading, no one can tell the extent to which a curse, instead of a blessing, may arise to our nation. Every thing is good and useful, only when in its proper place. In respect of matter, the Editor must not and cannot change; only so far as aiming at greater vigour and earnestness in urging the glorious truths of our great salvation. To be a friendly visitor indeed, he must simply and unceasingly direct his readers to their best and only friend, the Lord Jesus, as the sacrifice for sin and also an ensample of godly life. If his readers fail to relish the blessed truth as it is in Jesus, he will then cease to feel it worth while to visit them. No, there is only one kind of food on which the souls of the faithful can feed. The bread of life which cometh down from heaven can alone really strengthen and nourish and invigorate them. To them which believe He is precious; and where men have really tasted that the Lord is gracious, not all the novelties of the day, whether in religion or science, can satisfy them. May the Editor to his latest day never cease to speak of the adorable Jesus in the fulness and freeness of his salvation; and to entreat and beseech his readers to be amongst the number of those, who, trusting to his blood and righteousness, are taking the kingdom of heaven by a holy violence!

There is one change however which the Editor has resolved to make, and to begin with in this number. These are days in which invention is at work to give and receive as n.uch as possible for one's money. All are looking at a good pennyworth, as it is called. The Editor hopes that he has not been wanting in this respect hitherto; but it has been thought that it might be well to give four pages more of matter, instead of the cover. This arrangement will meet the wishes of many who have regretted the removal of the Daily Texts from the body of the work; and he does not see how the change can be otherwise than acceptable in all respects